The Donald Trump approval rating 29 percent figure comes from a new American Research Group poll conducted September 16–20, 2026, among 1,100 U.S. adults. The survey found 29% approved of the way Trump was handling his job as president, while 68% disapproved.
The result is notable because it places Trump below 30% in this particular poll for the first time during either of his presidential terms. However, other recent national surveys have produced higher numbers, so the 29% result should be understood as one poll rather than a nationwide polling average.
Introduction
President Donald Trump’s approval rating has fallen to 29% in a new American Research Group poll, taking the president’s rating below the 30% mark in that survey for the first time in either of his two terms.
The poll, conducted from September 16 through September 20, 2026, surveyed 1,100 U.S. adults. It found that 29% approved of Trump’s performance as president, while 68% disapproved. The reported margin of error is approximately three percentage points.
The result has attracted attention because it represents a one-point decline from ARG’s August reading, when Trump had 30% approval and 66% disapproval. At the same time, it is important not to treat the 29% number as a definitive national average: other recent polls have measured Trump’s approval above that level.
The latest figures come as Americans continue to rate the economy and cost of living as major concerns and as Trump’s administration faces continued scrutiny over domestic and foreign-policy issues.
What Happened?
The American Research Group’s latest survey shows Trump’s overall job approval at 29%, compared with 68% disapproval.
The September result represents a decline from ARG’s earlier polling. According to reporting on the survey, Trump was at 30% approval in August and had been at 37% in September 2025.
The survey also found lower ratings when Americans were asked specifically about Trump’s handling of the economy.
Only 26% approved of Trump’s handling of the economy, while 71% disapproved, according to the results reported from the ARG survey.
That distinction matters because presidential approval is measured in several ways. A president can have an overall job-approval figure that differs substantially from approval on individual issues such as the economy, immigration, foreign policy or national security.
Key numbers from the ARG survey
- 29% approve of Trump’s overall job performance.
- 68% disapprove.
- 26% approve of his handling of the economy.
- 71% disapprove of his handling of the economy.
- The survey interviewed 1,100 U.S. adults.
- Fieldwork was conducted September 16–20, 2026.
- The reported margin of error is approximately ±3 percentage points.
Why the 29% Figure Is Getting Attention
The main significance of the result is that the ARG survey places Trump’s approval below 30%.
That is a meaningful milestone within this pollster’s own series. However, a single poll should not automatically be interpreted as representing the views of every American.
Polling results can differ because surveys use different methodologies, sample compositions, field dates and questionnaires.
For example, a Reuters/Ipsos survey conducted September 17–20 among 1,277 U.S. adults found Trump’s approval at 32%, with 66% disapproving. Ipsos described the 32% result as the lowest approval level recorded in its polling across Trump’s first and second presidencies.
Meanwhile, the Marquette Law School national poll, conducted September 2–9, found 37% approval and 63% disapproval.
These differences illustrate why polling averages and multiple surveys are useful when evaluating national public opinion.
Key Details
Trump’s overall approval fell to 29% in the ARG survey
The headline number is straightforward: 29% of respondents said they approved of the way Trump was handling his job, while 68% said they disapproved.
The economy received an even lower rating
Trump’s economic approval in the ARG survey was 26%, with 71% disapproving. This indicates that the economic question was producing a lower rating than Trump’s overall job performance in the same survey.
The change from August was relatively small
Trump’s approval moved from 30% in August to 29% in September in ARG’s polling. Because the poll has a margin of error of roughly three percentage points, the one-point movement by itself should not be interpreted as proof of a statistically significant change.
Other national polls show different numbers
The Reuters/Ipsos September survey put Trump’s approval at 32%, while Marquette’s September poll measured it at 37%. This variation reinforces the importance of considering multiple polls rather than relying on a single survey.
Background: Trump’s Approval During His Second Term
Trump began his second term in January 2025 with approval levels that were higher than the figures seen in several recent 2026 polls.
The Marquette Law School polling series provides one illustration of that longer-term movement. Its survey found Trump at 48% approval and 52% disapproval in early February 2025. By September 2026, its latest survey had him at 37% approval and 63% disapproval.
The Marquette data also show a change in the intensity of opinion. In early 2025, 29% strongly approved of Trump’s performance and 40% strongly disapproved. By September 2026, 15% strongly approved and 47% strongly disapproved.
The trend is therefore more complicated than simply comparing one month’s headline percentage with another. Different pollsters have recorded different levels, but several recent surveys have shown Trump below the levels recorded at the beginning of his second term.
What Other Recent Polls Show
The latest national polling provides useful context for the 29% ARG figure.
| Poll | Field dates | Approve | Disapprove |
|---|---|---|---|
| American Research Group | Sept. 16–20 | 29% | 68% |
| Reuters/Ipsos | Sept. 17–20 | 32% | 66% |
| Marquette Law School | Sept. 2–9 | 37% | 63% |
The surveys are not directly interchangeable because their methodologies and field dates differ. Still, all three show more Americans disapproving than approving of Trump’s job performance.
Economic Concerns Remain an Important Part of the Polling Picture
The economy is particularly important in understanding the latest polling.
The ARG survey gave Trump a 26% approval rating for his handling of the economy, five points below his overall job approval.
The Reuters/Ipsos September survey also found weak ratings on economic issues. Only 17% approved of Trump’s handling of the cost of living, according to Ipsos, while approval among Republicans on the issue had also declined.
Ipsos reported that Republican approval of Trump’s overall job performance had fallen to 73% in its September 17–20 survey, compared with 86% in January 2026. The same release said Republican approval of Trump’s handling of the U.S. economy had fallen from 80% in January to 56% in September.
These figures do not mean that every Republican or every voter shares the same view. Rather, they show how opinions varied across groups within the specific survey.
What Officials and Organizations Said
The 29% figure is a polling result rather than an official government statistic.
The American Research Group survey measures public opinion; it does not establish an official approval rating for the president.
In the reporting reviewed for this article, the White House has continued to defend Trump’s record and has emphasized administration priorities such as employment, inflation and housing affordability. However, the polling figures themselves come from independent survey organizations and should be kept separate from political statements about the administration’s performance.
Trump’s administration has also continued pursuing its policy agenda while the polling has been released. Official White House documents, for example, show ongoing presidential actions and policy announcements during September 2026.
Why This Matters
Presidential approval ratings are one measure of how Americans view a president’s performance. They can influence how political parties interpret the public mood, how lawmakers respond to constituents and how campaigns communicate with voters.
The 29% ARG result is particularly notable because it is below 30% and represents the lowest reading in that pollster’s current series.
However, it should not be treated as evidence that exactly 29% of all Americans support Trump.
The Reuters/Ipsos result of 32% and Marquette result of 37% demonstrate the range of recent national polling. A broader polling average can provide a different picture from an individual survey.
This distinction is especially important for readers who encounter headlines presenting a single poll as though it were the definitive measure of national opinion.
What Happens Next?
More national polling will provide additional information about whether the ARG result represents a temporary movement or part of a longer-term pattern.
The next useful data points will include additional surveys using different methodologies and samples. Comparing those results over time can help determine whether Trump’s approval remains around the levels recorded in recent polls or moves in another direction.
The November 2026 midterm elections are also approaching, meaning political organizations and the public will have increasing access to polling on both presidential approval and congressional preferences.
However, approval polling does not itself determine election results. It measures respondents’ views at the time a survey is conducted.
For now, the clearest factual takeaway is that American Research Group measured Trump’s approval at 29% in its September 16–20 survey, while other recent national polls have placed him somewhat higher.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Donald Trump’s approval rating now?
In the latest American Research Group survey conducted September 16–20, 2026, Trump’s approval rating was 29%, while 68% disapproved. Other recent polls have produced higher figures, including 32% in Reuters/Ipsos and 37% in Marquette’s September survey.
Is Donald Trump’s approval rating really 29 percent?
Yes, 29% is a verified result from the American Research Group’s September 2026 poll. It should be described specifically as the ARG poll result rather than as a universal national polling average.
When was the 29% Trump approval poll conducted?
American Research Group conducted the survey from September 16 through September 20, 2026, interviewing 1,100 U.S. adults.
How many Americans disapprove of Trump in the 29% poll?
The ARG survey found 68% disapproved of Trump’s handling of his job as president.
What is Trump’s approval rating on the economy?
The American Research Group survey found 26% approved of Trump’s handling of the economy, while 71% disapproved.
Is 29% Trump’s lowest approval rating ever?
The 29% figure is the lowest result reported by American Research Group for Trump in either of his presidential terms. Other pollsters have produced different historical lows; for example, Reuters/Ipsos reported a 32% approval rating in its September 17–20 survey and described that as Trump’s lowest level in its own polling across his political career.
Why are Trump’s approval numbers different between polls?
Polls can differ because of sampling methods, survey dates, sample populations, weighting, question wording and statistical variation. For example, ARG reported 29% approval, Reuters/Ipsos reported 32%, and Marquette reported 37% in their respective recent surveys.
Does a 29% approval rating predict the 2026 election result?
No. A presidential approval poll measures public opinion at a particular point in time. It does not determine or predict the outcome of an election. Election outcomes depend on voters, candidates, turnout, issues and other factors.